Therapeutic pillow

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic pillow for head and neck support of a user in a horizontal resting position on a supporting surface wherein a homogeneous, integral, generally elongate pad of resilient foam rubberlike material includes a pair of user supporting lobes on an upper face thereof, the lobes being separated by a trough therebetween and the lobes extending the length of the elongate dimension of the pad and overhanging the pad therealong such that when the head and neck of a user are placed on the upper face, they cause the overhanging portion of one of said lobes under and adjacent the user to stretchedly roll toward the supporting surface and outwardly from the pad to a position contacting the surface, thereby generating a restoring force and applying the force to the neck and head of the user thereby gently stretching the neck muscles of the user and encouraging a relaxed sleeping posture.

United States Patent [191 De Laittre, deceased et al.

[451 Aug. 20, 1974 THERAPEUTIC PILLOW [76] Inventors: Earle W. DeLaittre, deceased, late is j etMiaedlm Timberg, executor, 5207 GiandvlEWLn., Minneapolis, Minn. 55436 22 Filed: Feb. 15,1973

211 App]. No.: 332,671

Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. CalvertAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Conrad A Hansen [57] ABSTRACT A therapeuticpillow for head and neck support of a user in a horizontal restingposition on a supporting surface wherein a homogeneous, integral,generally elongate pad of resilient foam rubberlike material includes apair of user supporting lobes on an upper face thereof, the lobes beingseparated by a trough therebetween and the lobes extending the length ofthe elongate dimension of the pad and overhanging the pad therealongsuch that when the head and neck of a user are placed on the upper face,they cause the overhanging portion of one of said lobes under andadjacent the user to stretchedly roll toward the supporting surface andoutwardly from the pad to a position contacting the surface, therebygenerating a restoring force and applying the force to the neck and headof the user thereby gently stretching the neck muscles of the user andencouraging a relaxed sleeping posture.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most comerciallyavailable pillows provide relatively poor sleeping support to the userand are often gadgetlike in shape and provide an unacceptable appearancewhen made up with conventional bedding. Authorities agree that theobject of a well designed pillow is to support and maintain the neck andhead of a user in substantially the same natural position relative tothe body which is assumed by the head and neck when the user is standingor sitting. Such a position has been found most restful and avoids theunnatural stresses on the neck and cervical area at the top of the spinewhich often result when the head and neck are placed in unnaturalpositions during sleep.

Authorities have also found it desirable to apply gentle but even forcesto the head and neck region during sleep or rest to gently stretch theneck muscles, causing them to relax and thereby further reducing neckand spinal stresses and inducing more restful sleep.

Pillow discomfort is often caused by excessive local pressure applied bythe pillow to the head of the user. When these excessive pressures canbe reduced or eliminated, comfort is substantially increased. Thepresent invention is designed to minimize generation of such pressures.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field oftherapeutic pillows for support of the head and neck region of a user toinduce better, more restful sleep.

The therapeutic pillow invention comprises an integral generallyelongate pad of resilient foam rubberlike material having an upper facewith a pair of generally parallel, user supporting lobes extending thelength of the pad and separated by a trough, one lobe positioned tosupport the neck region of the user and the second lobe to support theupper head region when the body of the user lies in a generallytransverse orientation to the elongate dimension of the pad.

The pillow is provided with a lower, generally flat face which inassociation with the pair of lobes achieves a conventional pillowappearance.

Both lobes are generally convex in cross section and extend from thelower face to the trough, merging smoothly with the trough. The lobesoverhang the supporting surface on which the pillow ordinarily rests,such overhanging occurring all along the elongate dimension of the pad.When the head and neck of the user are placed on the upper face, theoverhanging portion of the lobe which supports the neck stretchedlyrolls toward the supporting surface and outwardly from the pad from afirst position overhanging the surface to a second position contactingthe horizontal surface, generating a restoring force which is applied tothe neck andhead of the user to thereby gently stretch the neck musclesof the user and induce a more relaxed sleeping posture.

The pillow is shaped to conform to the head and neck of the user andthereby minimizes generation of unwanted pressures on the head of theuser while providing desired support.

The pillow may also be used in an inverted position with the flat faceupward, which for many users provides substantial support and comfort.

In the inverted position, the pillow closely conforms to the head andneck. This close conformation occurs before the foam is fully compressedand thus distributes the pressure more evenly. The more even pressuredistribution substantially reduces the likelihood of excessive localizedpressures, a most serious cause of discomfort.

The deformation of the essentially flat face also provides a largecontact surface which, since the load remains constant, reduces theoverall pressure, further increasing the pillows comfort.

The invention is sturdy, long lasting, easy to manufacture and providesa highly desirable pillow for the support of a user in his preferredsleeping position, which retains the users head and neck in a natural,comfortable position substantially identical to the position occupied bythem when in a normal sitting or standing position. Since the pillow isformed of a homogeneous block of material having substantially the sameresilient characteristics throughout, it assures that the neck and headof a user receive evenly distributed support throughout the head-neckregion thereby diminishing unnatural distortion of the spine andundesired pressure on nerves and neck muscles.

The supporting lobes of the pillow extend the length of the pillowpermitting the user to lie on his back or side with equal comfort andfacility and to move from side to side as may appear most comfortable tohim during his sleeping period without sacrificing the even support ofthe pillow. The lobes are of different heights so as to provide acomfortable position for heads and necks of various shapes and sizes.The flat lower face of the pillow, in association with the lobes, givesthe pi]- low a conventional pillow appearance when made up with standardbedding.

These and other advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS and indicating the supporting forcesapplied to the head and neck region of a user.

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the pillow of FIGS. 1 and 2 showingthe distribution of supporting forces when occupied by a user.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the pillow of FIG. 3 taken indirection 4-4 and showing an alternative use position of the pillow.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the pillow showing another positionof use and illustrating the distribution of supporting forces occasionedby such use.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pillow showing its lower face in anupward orientation with the lobes resting on the supporting surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the therapeutic pillow 10,embodying the invention, is shown on a supporting surface 12 with a user14 resting thereon. The pillow, which is formed of an integral,homogeneous, generally elongate pad 11 of resilient foam rubberlikematerial, such as urethane foam or the like has upper and lower faces 16and 18, respectively, the entire pillow 10 being contained in acommercially available pillowcase 20. A tailored, zippered cover 22encases the pillow 10, but has been partially cut away to better showthe pillow construction.

The upper face 16 of the pillow 10 is provided with a first usersupporting lobe 24, the first lobe positioned on the pillow to supportthe neck region of the user when the users body is generally transverseto the elongate dimension of the pillow as shown in FIG. 1. A seconduser supporting lobe 26 is spaced from and generally parallel to thefirst lobe 24, and the lobes 24 and 26 extend the length of the pillow10 along the elongate dimension thereof. The second lobe 26 is shown inFIG. 1 supporting the upper head region of the user and cooperating withthe lobe 24 and trough 28 to cradle the head. A trough 28 extends thelength of the pillow l and separates the first and second lobes from oneanother and merges smoothly into the curvature of the lobes.

The lower face 18 is provided with a fiat, generally rectangular base30, best seen in FIG. 6. This flat rectangular base 30 providesexcellent foundational support for the pillow as it rests on thesupporting surface 12. When the pillow is inverted such that the lobes24 and 26 rest upon the surface 12, with the base 30 upward, the flatbase 30 in association with the lobes 24 and 26 achieves a conventionalpillow appearance when a pillow slip is placed thereabout and the bed ismade up in conventional fashion.

Referring now to F IG. 2, the lobes 24 and 26 are generally convex incross section and extend from the lower face 18 and merge smoothly withthe trough 28.

In the embodiment of the pillow invention shown herein, the first andsecond lobes 24 and 26, respectively, are each of substantially constantdiameter from its line of intersection with the lower face 18 to itsline of intersection with the trough 28 as is best indicated in FIG. 6where the radii 32 and 34 and the approximate extent of their rotationare indicated. While the lobes have been shown as being of constantradius herein, it should be understood that this is not essential andthat other curvatures achieving a generally similar lobe shape arewithin the purview of the invention.

The lobe 24 is formed with a smaller diameter than the lobe 26 to assurethat the lobe 24 does not rise as high above the support surface 12 asdoes the lobe 26. This has been found desirable in order to accommodatethe varying comfort demands of different users, since shapes and sizesof heads and necks vary.

The first lobe 24 is arranged to overhang the supporting surface 12 at36 all along the elongate dimension of the pillow for a purpose whichwill now be discussed in detail. It has been found extremely helpful tothe inducement of restful sleep that the users head and neck besupported in substantially the same natural position relative to thebody as that ordinarily used in standing or sitting. In addition it isbeneficial if the head and neck region can be gently upwardly stretchedfrom the shoulders during sleep; a gentle evenly applied forcestretching the neck muscles reduces spinal tension and pressure onnerves and neck muscles thereby achieving more restful sleep. Theseobjectives are attained by the present invention.

When the user lies on the pillow 10 as shown in FIG. 2, the resilientpad 11 compresses and adapts itself to the contours of the users neckand head region. As the neck region compresses the first lobe 24, thelobe 24 moves from the unstressed condition 36 successively andstretchedly rolling toward the supporting surface 12 and outwardly fromthe pad 11 to and through a position 40 and finally to a position 42,shown in phantom, wherein the first lobe 24 has an increased amount ofits circumference resting on the supporting surface 12 and generatingsupporting forces on the users head and neck region as will now bedescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the final position 42 is representativeof the portion of the pillow directly under and adjacent the users neckand head; force vectors F exert an upward force on the neck of the userand also exert a traction-like force tending to gently urge the neck andhead toward the trough 28 of the pillow 10 which results in the neckmuscles being gently stretched. The force vectors F are generated as aresult of the first lobe 24 being stretchedly rolled outward from thetrough and toward the supporting surface 12 as indicated by thesuccessive positions 36, 40 and 42 through which the lobe 24 moves.

The second lobe 26 is constructed in a fashion identical to that alreadydescribed and discussed for the first lobe 24 and is provided with anoverhang similar to that of lobe 24 such that a user lying thereon willcause it to stretchedly roll outward in the same manner described forlobe 24 resulting in a similar distribution of force vectors and anidentical result in gently stretching and supporting the neck muscles ofthe user. Since the result achieved by the second lobe 26 issubstantially identical to that for the lobe 24, it will not bediscussed in further detail. It should be understood, however, that theuser can place either the low or high lobe 24 or 26, respectively, underthe neck region depending upon which is most comfortable for him.

While the lobe 24 provides a supporting and stretching effect for theneck region of the user, the trough 28 simultaneously provides upwardsupport F for the head, and the remaining lobe 26 provides additionalhead support as also indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by vectors FAccordingly, the shown lobes 24 and 26 cooperate to cradle the head ofthe user therebetween to further encourage a relaxed sleeping posture.

While FIGS. 1 through 3 have emphasized the utility of the pillow 10 forsupporting a sleeper in a supine position, it should be understood thatthe pillow is equally confortable for other sleeping positions. FIG. 5shows the user 14 in a side position and indicates the distribution offorces F in the pillow adjacent the lower head and neck region of theuser which gently support the neck and lower head regions. As alreadydescribed and discussed in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the userdepresses the lobe 24 it stretchedly rolls outward from the pad 11 anddownward toward the supporting surface 12 to generate the force vectorsF, which gently stretch the neck muscles.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the pillow 10 has its ends 44 and 46 rounded,the curve following a gentle contour from the upper face 16 to the lowerface 18. The ends 44 and 46 are constructed and arranged to overhang thesupporting surface 12 in order to provide greater confort to a user.Some users prefer sleeping on their stomachs with the head in agenerally sidewards position on the pillow such that the user 14 lookstoward the end 44 of the pillow 10. By shaping the end 44 to overhangthe surface 12, greater head comfort is achieved when the user rests hishead 48 between the first and second lobes and on the trough 28 becausethe trough 28 adjacent the end 44 or 46 is easily depressed to a lowerposition 50 which places less stress on the cervical spine area andpermits a more comfortable position of the head 48. As shown in FIG. 4the head need not be forced wholly to right or left since the depressedend of the trough 28 allows the more comfortable intermediate position50. The overhanging ends 44 and 46 of the pillow are thus of importancein providing the more comfortable sleeping position 50 shown in FIG. 4when a user lies on his stomach with head turned to the side. Thearrangement permits the head 48 to incline downwardly at the end 44 or46 of the pillow 10 instead of being aligned directly sideward.

In operation, the user can position the pillow in any positioncomfortable to himself, the preferred positions being shown in FIGS. l5wherein the pillow l0 rests on the lower face 18 and the user lies onthe upper face 16 with the users body transverse to the elongatedimension of the pillow. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the back of the head issupported by the trough 28 with the first lobe 24 and second lobe 26providing support to the neck region and upper head region,respectively. As the users neck region depresses the lobe 24, the loberolls outwardly and downwardly as shown in FIG. 2, generating restoringforces F which gently lift the head of the user and gently stretch theneck muscles in a direction toward the trough 28 thereby reducing stressto cervical spine area, neck muscles and nerves and inducing morerestful sleep. The distribution of the forces F, is shown in FIGS. 2 and3. The second lobe 26 provides support for the upper head as indicatedby force vector F 2 and cooperates with lobe 24 to cradle the headtherebetween.

In the event the user finds the pillow more comfortable if the higherlobe 26 is positioned at the neck region, the pillow 10 can be easilyrotated and the lobe 26 placed in the position relative to the neckoccupied by lobe 24 in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, if greater comfort isachieved by placing the pillow in the position shown in FIG. 6 with thebase 30 being oriented upward, this too can be used as an alternativeposition for the pillow. It should be understood that the lobes 24 and26 are curved such that the lobes 24 and 26 overhang the supportingsurface 12 in either the orientation shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 1.Consequently use of the pillow in either position will cause thegeneration of the forces described in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the resultinggentle stretching of the neck muscles which has been found so useful ininducement of restful sleep.

Naturally it should be understood that the pillow 10 may be made invarious sizes and lengths and the material from which it is formed maybe selected to produce pillows of various hardnesses to suit the user.

When the pillow is to be used in making up a bed, the lower face 18 ispositioned upward as shown in FIG. 6 to achieve a normal decorativeappearance for the bed.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the inventionprovides a long lasting and comfortable therapeutic pillow whichsupports the head and neck of a user in a horizontal resting positionand allows the neck and head to assume the same relative position withrespect to the body which would normally be occupied in a standing orsitting position. While the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been described, it should be understood that variouschanges, adaptations and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A therapeutic pillow for head and neck support of a user in agenerally horizontal resting position on a horizontal supporting surfacecomprising a homogeneous, integral, generally elongate pad of resilientfoam rubberlike material, said integral pad including:

an upper face provided with first and second, generally parallel, usersupporting lobes extending the length of said pad and connected by aconcave trough therebetween, said trough extending the length of saidpad, said first lobe spaced from said second lobe so as to support theneck region of the user while said second lobe and said troughsimultaneously support the head of the user when the body of the user isgenerally transverse to the elongate dimension of said pad;

a lower, generally flat face constructed and arranged to, in associationwith said first and second lobes, achieve a conventional pillowappearance when said lower face confronts a viewer; and

said first and second lobes being generally convex in cross section andextending from said lower face to said trough and merging with saidtrough, said first lobe overhanging the horizontal surface along theelongate dimension of said pad such that the head and neck of a user,when placed on said pad transverse to the elongate dimension, cause theoverhanging portion of said first lobe under and adjacent the user tostretchedly roll toward the supporting surface and outwardly from saidpad from a first position overhanging the supporting surface to a secondposition contacting the supporting surface to thereby generate arestoring force and apply the force to the neck region and head of theuser, thereby stretching the neck muscles of the user and cooperatingwith said second lobe and trough to cradle the head to encourage arelaxed sleeping posture.

2. The therapeutic pillow of claim 1 wherein said first lobe is ofconstant diameter from the line of intersection with said lower face tothe line of intersection with said trough, said first lobe being ofsmaller diameter than said second lobe.

3. The therapeutic pillow of claim 1 wherein the ends ing surface.

1. A therapeutic pillow for head and neck support of a user in agenerally horizontal resting position on a horizontal supporting surfacecomprising a homogeneous, integral, generally elongate pad of resilientfoam rubberlike material, said integral pad including: an upper faceprovided with first and second, generally parallel, user supportinglobes extending the length of said pad and connected by a concave troughtherebetween, said trough extending the length of said pad, said firstlobe spaced from said second lobe so as to support the neck region ofthe user while said second lobe and said trough simultaneously supportthe head of the user when the body of the user is generally transverseto the elongate dimension of said pad; a lower, generally flat faceconstructed and arranged to, in association with said first and secondlobes, achieve a conventional pillow appearance when said lower faceconfronts a viewer; and said first and second lobes being generallyconvex in cross section and extending from said lower face to saidtrough and merging with said trough, said first lobe overhanging thehorizontal surface along the elongate dimension of said pad such thatthe head and neck of a user, when placed on said pad transverse to theelongate dimension, cause the overhanging portion of said first lobeunder and adjacent the user to stretchedly roll toward the supportingsurface and outwardly from said pad from a first position overhangingthe supporting surface to a second position contacting the supportingsurface to thereby generate a restoring force and apply the force to theneck region and head of the user, thereby stretching the neck muscles ofthe user and cooperating with said second lobe and trough to cradle thehead to encourage a relaxed sleeping posture.
 2. The therapeutic pillowof claim 1 wherein said first lobe is of constant diameter from the lineof intersection with said lower face to the line of intersection withsaid trough, said first lobe being of smaller diameter than said secondlobe.
 3. The therapeutic pillow of claim 1 wherein the ends of saidlobes and of said trough overhang the supporting surface.